E 










PH \B aJ 

■-» ■— v 






COL. WILLIAM HILL'S MEMOIRS 



OF 



THE REVOLUTION 




Book 



— - 



GOL. WILLIAM HILL'S MEMOIRS 

OF 

THE REVOLUTION 



Edited by 

A. S. SALLEY, JR. 

i 

Secretary of the Historical Commission of South Carolina 




Printed for 

THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF SOUTH CAROLINA 

By The State Company, Columbia, S. C. 
1 92 1 



2.G><3 






INTRODUCTION 

As will be seen by the certificate of Thomas Sumter, at the end 
of this volume, Col. Hill placed his manuscript account of his 
experiences in the campaigns subsequent to the fall of Charles 
Town in 1780 in the hand of Gen. Sumter, father of the signer 
of the certificate, at some time prior to the death of Gen. Sumter 
in 1832. Gen Sumter made some corrections by interlineations 
and by striking out words, and sometimes inserting others in 
their stead. These corrections were only to improve the English 
or to supply words that were evidently omitted; none of the 
statements made was corrected. 

It will also be seen by Mr. Sumter's statement that over two 
years after the death of Gen. Sumter the manuscript was returned 
to a son of Col. Hill, but that before that was done Mr. J. W. 
Brownfield, son-in-law of Mr. Sumter, had made a copy thereof. 
Mr. Sumter and Thomas D. Sumter then compared the Brown- 
field copy with the original and saw that they accorded before 
the original was returned to the Hill family. This Brownfield 
copy remained in the Browmfield family until a few years, ago. 
when it was presented to the Library of Congress by the surviv- 
ing daughters of Mr. BroAvnfield who resided at Summerville. 
Through the kindness of John R. Hart, Esq., of York, a photo- 
static copy of the Brownfield manuscript was procured from the 
Library of Congress, and the negative thereof was used as 
printer's copy in setting this. Wherever Gen. Sumter interlined 
or scratched out anything in the original text a foot note is given 
to such interlineations or expurgations. We are uninformed as 
to what became of the original manuscript of the memoirs which 
was returned to Col. Hill's son in 1835. 



THE AUTHOR TO THE READER 



For near 30 years, I have been waiting with hopes that some 
person fitly qualified both in abilities and knowledge of facts, 
would have undertaken to rectify some great mistakes, which 
have been made by the historians who have wrote on the revolu- 
tion in So-Ca- Charity will oblige me to suppose that the mis- 
representations that have been made was owing to correct infor- 
mation being wanted, and not by design; but whatever was the 
cause, the fact is that great misrepresentations have been made 
and one in particular of the action of Kings Mountain in this 
State, and as the result of that battle, was one grand link in the 
gre.it chain of Providence & events that broke the plans of the 
enemy, to hold the Southern states as British provinces, it ought 
to be handed down to posterity, and more especially as we are 
now engaged in war, to support our independence — it is the 
design of the author to rectify the mistakes that have unhappily 
been made: and I do declare to the readers, that it is not from 
any peculiar motive or design of the author to be known as a 
historian (as I am conscious I am not qualified for the task) — 
I can relate facts (which I know of. my own certain knowledge) 
in the naked dress of truth — and it hath so happened that there 
is not now alive any other person, that can write so fully of so 
many facts as I can — and as no other has undertaken the task, 
that hath the same knowledge. I have with reluctance taken it 
upon myself — In the reading of both military & Civil, or Legis- 
lative transactions the designing eye (and more especially these 
who are yet alive that had any agency in the transactions) will 
sec that there was a Providence that overruled the actions of 
men. who brought forth means to carry forth the great work — 
It will be seen that Gen 1 . Sumter who had the merit of 1 first, 
gen 1 officer, that made any opposition to the enemy after the fab 
gf Charleston, they having overrun the Country: and all So. 
Ca. had submitted to their power except the" new acquisition, 
now York district. — that Gen 1 . Sumter was prevented from being 
with the party at Kings Mountain, and having then the chief 
command, that he was necessarily absent by reason of the treach- 
erous conduct of an officer, that is the only one of So. Co. that is 
named by the historians, and at the same time the only officers 
that was instrumental to bring about that great event, is not 

[nterlined above is: being the 

- Interlined above is: the part called the 



mentiond — and altho" 1 it is disagreeable to state facts that may 
hurt the character of the dead or wound the feelings of the living 
yet it is the duty of the Historian : — and the 1 duty of the living, 
if their friends 2 acted improperly, is for them not to follow their 
example — That the present generation may copy after the laud- 
able exanjple of their forefathers and make use of all the means 
which God & nature hath given them: — and to hold that inde- 
pendence purchased so so dearly by their fathers, and have a 
proper trust in that Power who governs the affairs of nations, 
is the Prayer and wish of the author- (Signed) Wm. Hill 
Febv. 1815— 



i Interlined above is: only 
^Interlined above is : have 



Shortly after the fall of Charleston which happened the 12 th - 
of May 1780 the British had advanced above Camden to the 
Waxsaw & fixed a post at Rocky Mount, and Granby, on the 
Congarees, Orangeburg & & c . At that time all the upper division 
of the State was commanded by Gen 1 . Pickens, as Gen 1 . William- 
son that had the chief command previous to that time, turned a 
traitor to his country. & went to the enemy then in Savannah, 
& made his peace with them — Previous to the fall of Charles- 
ton, at that time there being a considerable quantity of arms & 
ammunition deposited at a fort in Ninety Six District, the British 
commander Earl Cornwallis, commissioned a certain Cap 1 . Par- 
ris, that commanded about 80 tories, to go ahead of his troops 
to take the submissions of all the Americans that was dispos d . 
to become British subjects, to this Parriss & his small party of 
Tories, did Gen 1 . Pickens submit & surrender the beforemen- 
tioned fort, together with all the military stores. And likewise 
marched several hundred men with their arms. & surrendered 

to the said Parriss When these events came to be known, to 

the citizens in the new acquisition, now Y k . D*. the two Col 3 , 
commanding that dis*. namely Watson & Bratton, 1 as it was then 
the custom to have two Col s . to a Regiment, they then appointed 
a meeting of the Reg 1 , at a place called Bullocks creek meeting 
house At this meeting, they did not encourage the men. but 
much 2 the reverse, by telling them that they had hitherto done 
their duty. But it appeared to them that any further opposition 
to the British would not avail & as for their parts could have 
nothing more to say to them as officers but to advise each of them 
to do the best they could for themselves — Upon this the meet- 
ing broke up. but it was generally rumored about, that' a com- 
missioner' was sent to Lord Rawdon then in the Waxaw. so it was 
that a man of a respectable character that had represented the 
District in the Gen 1 Assembly (did go) but whether employed by 
the officers or not. the author cannot say- The anxiety of the 
citizens to know the result of this mission was great & they met 
at the Iron works, at which place the person from Lord Rawdon 
met them £ exhibited his commission from under the great seal 
of Lord Rawdon that he was empowered to take their submis- 
sions & give paroles & protections to all that choose to become 

'Samuel Watson ami William Bratton. 

^Interlined above i- : t<> 
"Interlined above is : time that 
■*The or added by Gen. Sumter. 



British Subjects — he, the said commiss 1 ". took his stand & pro- 
ceeded to read a proclamation of his Lordships that begun by 
asserting that Congress has given up the two Southern states. 
& would not contend further for them that as Gen 1 . Washing- 
ton's army was reduced to a small number of men. & that he, 
with that small army had fled to the mountains — Y r . author then 
stopped the commissi from reading more of the proclamation 
and took the stand himself, & addressed the citizens in the fol- 
lowing language, "that he was happy to have it in his power 
to inform them that both the facts stated in the s d . proclamation 
was false and that it was in order to intimidate & deceive the 
citizens, so far from being a fact that Congress had come to a 
resolution not to give up any of the States, and that Gen 1 . Wash- 
ington was in a more prosperous way than he had been in for 
some time, that he had actually appointed an officer with a con- 
siderable army, and was then on their march to the relief of the 
Southern States, and that we had all taken an oath to defend 
& maintain the Independence of the state to the utmost of our 
power and that if we could not raise a force to meet the foe, we 
had one open side, we c d . keep in a body, go into No. Ca. meet 
our friends & return with them to recover our State — After 
saying this and much more not necessary to relate, there was a 
visible animation in the countenances of the citizens and their 
former state of despondency visibly reversed, and the poor Com- 
missi was oblig ed to disappear with his proclamation & protec- 
tions for fear of the resentment of the audience 

And here your Author wishes to remark that he by no means 
wishes to arogate any thing to himself or to have it be sup- 
posed that he had or possessed more public virtue or firmness 
than other men who acted differently. And after these things 
took place the men appeared very anxious to keep in a body 
but they had no officers. — I then advised them to Ballot for two 
Colonels and they did so and it appeared their choice fell upon 
a young man by the name of NeeP and your Author we then 
proceeded to further arrangements and that was for the men 
to choose all other of their officers to form into companies &c- 
we then formed a camp and errected the American Standard. 
And as soon as this was known there were men both of the 
states of Georgia and South Carolina adding daily to our num- 
bers that we soon became a respectable body and a few days after 

^Andrew Neel. 



these things happened we received information that there was 
a tory colonel by the name of Floyd in the western part of the 
District who much distressed the Inhabitants and was collect- 
ing men to go to the British post at Rocky Mount, upon this 
Col- Neel with all the men but about 12 or 15- that was left to 
keep the camp went in persuit of that party of Tories but unfor- 
tunately before he got to their settlement they had marched to 

Rocky Mount. And from there a certain captain Hook 1 with 

a company of Horse and about 500 Tories came to the Iron 
works, 2 destroyed all the property they could not carry away. 
Burned the forge furnace, grist and saw mills together with 
all other buildings even to the negro huts, & bore away about 
90 negroes all which was done before Col. Niel returned with 
the army to camp — - About this time I was informed that Col. 
Sumter was then in Salisbury with a few men waiting for a 
reinforcement — I then wrote to him, informing him of our sit- 
uation & that there was a 3 probability of our making a handsome 
stand — and that we were about to form a junction with Gen'. 
Rutherf d . in N". Car a . that we were going to attack a large body 
of Tories that had collected at a place called Ramsours Mill — 
But so it was that a detatched party of about 300 horse from 
Gen 1 Ruth d . attacked the Tory camp said to be upwards of a 
1000 men, killed & dispers d . the whole — and then it was that 
Col. Sumter met with us from So. Ca. He then got authority 
from the civil & military authority of that State to impress or 
take waggons horses, provisions of all kinds, from the enemy 
that was in that action — & to give a receipt to that state for the 
same — This being done we returned to So. Ca. & formed a camp 
on the East side of 4 Catawba River at the place called Clems 
branch — from this out all our proceedings of importance was 
done by a convention of the whole — a commission of captains 
appointed to take notice of all the property taken either from 
the enemy or friends." & a commissioner to supply us with pro- 
visions &c — 

After we had been some time at this camp as before mentioned, 
in order to prepare for actual service a number of men together 

'Christian Huck, formerly a lawyer of Philadelphia. As a regular cap- 
tain he ranked a militia field officer. 

2 Hill's Iron Works, the property of Col. William Hill (author of these 
Memoirs) and Isaac Hayne. 

3 Interlined above is : likely 

^Interlined above is: the 



with y r . author, being desirous to go into their own settlements 
on the west side of the River, in order to get a reinforce as well 
as other necessaries 'to enable us to keep the field— shortly after 
Ave crossed the River we were informed by our friends, that 
Capt. Hook the same that had a few weeks before destroyed 
the Iron works had sent to most of the houses in the settlement, 
to notify the aged men, the young being in Camp, to meet him 
at a certain place, that he desired to make terms with them, & 
that he would put them in the King's peace accordingly they 
met him, he undertook to harrangue them, on the certainty of 
his majesty 5 , reducing all the Colonies, to obedience, and he 
far exceeded the Assyrian Gen ls who"' we read of in ancient writ 
in blasphemy by saying that (rod almighty had become a Rebel, 
but if there were k 20 Gods on that side, they would all be con- 
quered, was his expression — Whilst he was employed in this 
impious blasphemy' he had his officers & men taking all the 
horses fit for his purpose, so that many of the aged men had to 
walk many miles home afoot — This ill behaviour of the enemy 
made an impression on the minds of the most serious 4 men in 
this little band and raised their courage under the belief that 
they would be made instruments 5 in the hand of Heaven to 
punish this enemy for his wickedness and blasphemy — and no 
doubt the recent injuries that many of their families received 
from the said Hook and his party had 6 an effect to stimulate 
this little band to a proper courage — The number of the Ameri- 
cans was 133, and many of them without arms Cap". Hook had 
about 100 horse & Col. Forguson, at this time commander of the 
Tory Militia, had about 300 men: they were encamp d . in a Lane — 
a strong fence on each side — the Horse picketed in the inside of a 
field next to the lane, with their furniture on the officers in a 
mansion house in the field, in which was a number of women, 
wh.icli the said Hook had brought there, and at the moment the 
action commenced, he was then flourishing his sword over the 
head of these unfortunate women. & threatening them with death 
if they would not get their husbands & sons to come in — and 

iThe words in order stricken out here. 
-The word who stricken out and that interlined above. 
The word blasphemy changed to blasphemous and harangue interlined 
a I wive. 

^Interlined above is: of the 

">The word instruments changed to instrumental 

6Interlined above is: likewise 



10 

'marching all night, we made the attack about the break of 
day — The plan was to attack both ends of the Lane at the same 
time, but unfortunately the party sent to make the attack on the 
east end of the lane met with some embarrassments, by fences, 
brush, briars &c. that they could 2 not get to the end of the lane 
until the firing commenced at the west end — The probability is 
that if that party 3 had made good their march in time very few 
of them w d . have escaped — However Cap. Hook was killed, and 
also Col. Ferguson of the Tory Militia- Hook's Lint*, was 
wounded & died afterwards; considerable number of privates 
the number not known, as there wore many of their carcasses 
found in the woods some days after- This happened about the. 
10 th .. of July 1780 at Williamsons Plantation in Y k . D l „ and it 
was the first check the enemy had received after the fall of 
Charleston; and was of greater consequence to the American 
cause than can be well supposed from an affair of small a mag- 
nitude — as it had the tendency to inspire the Americans with 
courage & fortitude & to teach them that the enemy was not 
invincible — And here in order to shew the present generation, 
what a set of unprincepled officers, with a few exceptions, their 
fathers had to deal with- Two very valuable young negroes, 
belonging to yr. author were taken by the wounded Leu 4 , already 
mentioned, and were kept to wait upon him. He requested of me 
to giant him a guard & a waggon to take him to the post at Rocky 
Mount — Which request was granted to him. & while I was mak- 
ing arrangements to send the guard the two negroes disappear' 1 . 
I then told the Liu 1 , that I knew that they were gone to Rocky 
Mount. & that 1 s d . should expect him to send them back with the 
guard, he appeared to be very warm that I should have any 

doubt of his doing so. and said, that he would be a D n 

scoundrel to keep my property, after receiving such human treat- 
ment from me — But so it was. it turned out that he shewed him- 
self to be the person lie mentioned; for the Cap*, of the guard. 
knew the negroes, & found that he the said Liu* had them again 
in his service, and when he was ready to leave the place applied 
to him for the negroes: but he threatened him and the rest of 

'Interlined above is: after 

-Tlie wool could stricken out and did written above 
3Interlined above is: at the East end 



11 

the guard with confinement, if he would say airy thing about 
them, & it was with a great difficulty he obtained a pass to return 
back to me- These two negroes have never been recovered by me 1 
by any other for me 

+ 



Shortly after this, being the 13 th . July 1780. Gen 1 . Sumter made 
an unsuccessful attempt to reduce the British post at Rocky M l . 
This was made under the impression that the Enemy was in a 
large framed house: the walls of which were only thin clap 
boards, and we supposed that our balls w d . have the desired effect 
by shooting through the Avail, but so it was, that from the time 
we rec d . this information until the time the attack was made the 
Enemy had wrought day & night and had placed small logs 
about a foot from the inside of the wall and rammed the cavity 
with clay, and under this delusion we made the attack — ; but 
soon found that we c d . injure them noway, but by shooting in 
their port-holes And here the brave Col. Xeil was killed & 7 
privates; upon this we were forced to retreat behind a ledge of 
Rocks about a hundred y ds . from the house — Here the officer? 
held a council & it was discovered that there was a large rock, 
and between this rock and the fort, stood a small house which 
might be fired by throwing fire brands over the rock, & that this 
house w d . communicate the fire to the house the Enemy was in 
and as we had the command of the water they could not possibly 
extinguish the flames — From this ledge of Rocks where the army 
lay, to the rock near the house was about 100 y ds . free of any 
obstructions: & it is well known that when any object is going 
from or coming to a marksman, the marksman had near as good 
a chance as if the object was stationary it was then proposed by 
the Gen 1 . & other officers for 2 men to endeavor to fire that small 
house, but the undertaking appeared so hazardous, that no two 
men of the army could be found to undertake it- After some 
considerable time was spent, y r . author proposed that if any 
other man w d go with him he w d : make the attempt: at length 
a young man. brother to the Johnsons now living in Fairfield ^ 
D l . proposed to undertake with me — and we had every assistance 
that c d . lie obtained — Rich lightwood split & bound with cords 
to cover the most vital parts of our bodies, as well as a large 
bundle of the same wood to carry in our arms, being thus equiped 
Interlined after me is : nor 



12 

we run the 100 y ds . to the rock; Mr. Johnson was to manage the 
fire & y r . author was to watch the enemys sallying- out of the 
house - but before the fire was sufficiently kindled the enemy 
did sally out with fixed bayonets; the same race was run again, 
to where the army lay. & under a heavy fire, not only from those 
who had sallied out, but like wise from a large number of Port 
holes in that end of the house — It was then proposed that the 
whole of our rifle-men sh d . direct their fire to that space between 
the small & great house, which was about 15 ft.: we being equipt 
as before mentioned, made the 2 d . attempt. & the plan already 
mentioned, prevented the Enemy from sallying a 2 d . time We 
then had an opportunity of making a large fire behind the rock, 
& throwing life brands on the roof of the little house & we staid 
until that roof was in flames. & the heat of it had caused the wail 
of the great house to smoke — We then concluded the work was 
done, & undertook the 4 th . race, which was much more hazardous 
than the iormer ones, as the Enemy during the interval, had 
opened :i great many more port-holes in that end of the build- 
ing — And here I beg leave to remark that Providence so pro- 
tected us both, that neither of us lost a drop of blood, altho' locks 
of hair was cut from our heads and our garments riddled wit 1 ' 
balls — & Scarcity had we time to look back from behind the rock 
where our men lay. in hopes to see the fire progressing, but to 
our great mortification, when the great house was beginning to 
Maine — as heavy a storm of rain fell, as hath fallen from that 
time to the present, & which extinguished the flames — We were 
then forced to retreat under as great mortification, as ever any 
number of men endured 



About the 21 st ,. of July 1780. Gen 1 . Sumter made a successful 
attack on the British post at the Hanging Pock at which place 
were about 500 Regulars & about 800 Tories from X. Ca. com- 
manded by Col. Bryan — (Jen'. Sumter had about 600 So Caro- 
linians -'( Jen 1 . Sumter's men were so short of ammunition, that 
when they began this attack generally, no one of them had more 
than 5 bullets — In the latter part of the action the arms & ammu- 
nition, which were taken from the British & Tories, who fell in 
the commencement of it. were turned against their associates. 
In this attack there was a number of men from Mecklenburg 
County in No. Ca. commanded by Col. Ervin; the number not 
known: & likewise about 80 horse commanded by Col. Davie — 

Thr words those commanded, Vy are interlined before Genl Sumter's 
men ami the possessive and men are stricken out. 



13 

these men behaved well, and are entitled to equal merit with the 
So. Car. s . This action commenced under many very unfavorable 
circumstances to the Americans, as they had to march across 
a water course & climb a steep cliff, being all this time under the 
enemys fire & could not injure them until they got around the 
side of* their camp — But as soon as they got to their ground they 
instantly drove them out of their camp & pursued them a con- 
siderable distance. — In the mean time the British camp being 
about one quarter of a mile from this Tory camp, advanced firing 
in platoons before the one half of the Americans c d . be brought 
off from the pursuit of the Tories; these few took to trees & 
rocks; whilst the British were advancing firing in platoons, and 
they fell so fast by their unseen enemy that their officers were 
obliged to push them forward by their sabers- The loss of the 
British in the action, was great in killed & wounded - The Prince 
of Wales* Regiment was almost anihilated — The Tories lost 
& killed was considerable The Americans had about 40 killed, 
& two Captains and your author wounded 

Here is a great from 

the battle of Camden on the 16 th of Aug 
was lost by G 1 Gates, & the battle 
of Fishing Creek was lost by G 1 . Sumter 1 
About the 12 th November following Major Weymis was sent by 
Earl Cornwallis to surprise Gen 1 . Sumter who was encamped 
near Broad River — The detatchment by Weymis consisted of 
dragoons & infantry, the whole about three times the number 
that were with Gen 1 . Sumter — The attack was made in the night 
when most of the men were asleep ; and two of the dragoons 
entered the Gen 13 ., markey. while he made his escape out of the 
back of the markey & got under the bank of the River — The 
Americans retreated in the dark to a commanding ground, 
(within Shot of their fires) where they waited until the enemy 
collected in great numbers around their fires. & began to plunder, 
not supposing that they would meet with any interruption. & 
while they were in this position around the fires, the Americans, 
having the advantage of the light, poured on them such a fire 
that they killed & wounded a great many — they then made a 
very rapid retreat & were pursued by the Americans some dis- 

iThis nuic is not in same handwriting as the narrative. 



14 

tance=Major Weymis wounded & taken prisoner, altho' he had 
in his pocket, the evidence of his having in cold blood hanged 
several of the Americans, likewise a list of a number of a num- 
ber of the houses he had burned on Black River notwithstanding 
this he was well treated by his Conquerors 
— // 

On the 20 th - of the same month a battle was fought- at Black 
stocks on Tiger River, and here let me remark that there was no 
battle fought during the revolutionary war where was so much 
disparity between the two different combattants. thu number of 
Americans did not exceed 600 and many of that number very in- 
differently armed. Col Tarlton who made this attack on Gen 1 
Sumter had 1200 horse and Infantry together with a field piece. 
The Americans were encamped on the bank of Tiger River. There 
were a number of houses between the River and a large open 
field 'from the American Camp, about a quarter of a mile there 
was a very large and strong fence not made with common rails 
but with small trees notched one on the other. On the west 
side of this Lane was a thick wood and at the mouth of this 
Lane was placed a strong Picket. The Americans having been 
pursued for 2 days and nights took this ground under the firm 
determination to defend it & not to retreat further — The action 
commenced by an attack on our Picket at the end of the Lane, 
they having the advantage of this strong fence above men- 
tioned, they kept the Cavalry from entering the Lane the num- 
ber in the houses mentioned joining the clear field kept the 
Infantry from advancing and those men from the houses were 
still dropping some of them though at the distance of 200 
yards. The enemy being thus kept back gave time for as many 
men who had horses and accoutrements fit for action to ad- 
vance to the AYesi side of the Lane through the thick wood 
these men were headed by Col. Lacy, he very judiciously ad- 
vanced within fire of them undiscovered, as they were then 
on horse back near the end of the Lane, he then gave them a 
lire so well directed that upwards of 20 of them fell from their 
horses as well as a number of their horses killed, the 
woods being so thick that the regular horse dare not 
penetrate it- and a number of the men dismounted oc- 
casionaly crept up so as to kill many of them in their ranks- 
tbe action commenced at one oclock ami neither horse nor foot 



15 

advanced to our camp between the Lane & the River until the 
going down of the Sun their horse then advanced in the Lane 
to attack our body of reserve that stood between the Lane & 
the River where the charge was made by their horse The 
Americans having the advantage of the before mentioned fence 
together with the thick wood just by the fence that before they 
got through the Lane their front both men & horse fell so fast 
that the way was nearly stopt up - a retreat was then ordered 
which was a pleasing sight for the Americans to behold - so 
many falling either by Avounds or stumbling over the dead 
horses or men. They were pursued by the Americans with loud 
shouts of victory - at the time this happened to the horse the 
Infantry advanced to the houses before mentioned and there 
they received such a heavy fire from those in the houses as 
well as from a number of the reserve that had got round to 
that quarter they then made their retreat in as great confusion 
as the horse- and were pursued a considerable way and many 
of them suffered in their retreat. 

The British had three officers killed (viz) Maj r -Money-Lieu ts - 
Gibson & Cope their loss of privates very considerable the num- 
ber not exactly known but supposed not short of 100 — The 
Americans had but two killed General Sumter severely wounded 
which for several months interrupted his gallant Interprise in 
behalf of the State, his zeal and activity in animating the 
american Militia when they were discouraged by repeated de- 
feats and the bravery & good conduct he displayed in sundry 
attacks on the British Detachments procured him the applause 

of his countrymen & the thanks of congress And here I 

must break through the order of time by relating some circum- 
stances that happened some months before the battle at Kings 
Mountain by which the reader will see the reason why Gei^-Sum- 
ter was not at that action & likewise the reason why the chief 
command devolved on another — He will likewise see that the 
Historians who have heretofore written on that brilliant action 
have been very badly informed. In there omitting the names 
of the Officers that deserved the greatest merit & was instru- 
mental by the aid of Providence to bring about that memorable 
event. & likewise oivinjr merit to those that had laid a wicked 
& treacherous plan to prevent it. which they had nearly accom- 
plished A short time after GerrM-uimter had formed his camp 
in South Carolina as before mentioned, a Colonel Williams of 



16 

ninety six District with a few of his friends, or neighbours 
had been Northwardly securing some of the most valuable prop- 
erty — came to camp & being better acquainted with your Author 
than any other officer, he informed me that as he had no men he 
could not expect any command, but that he wished to do some- 
thing to serve his country — I Informed him that a person was 
wanted to act as commisary to supply the army with provisions- 
Upon this I informed Gen 1 Sumter — a convention was imme- 
diately called & a commission made out & given to the said 
Williams to act as commisary to supply the Army — ■ And under 
his command was put a Maj '-Miles with 25 men & Horses — to- 
gether with 4 wagons & teams, he continued to act in this ca- 
pacity for some time & until after the battle at the hanging rock 
when our camp was at a place called Cane Creek, and on a 
certain morning it was discovered that our commisary 1 & a col 
Brannon 2 had eloped & had taken a great number of the public 
horses a considerable quantity of provisions with the camp 
equipage & a number of men — Upon this Gen 1 . Sumter sent Col 
Lacy with a small guard after them with a view at least to re- 
cover the public property — he overtook them encamped on the 
west side of the Cattawba River & finding their number too 
great for him to do any thing by coercive measures he then got 
the said Williams to walk with him out of the camp, he then 
presented a pistol to his breast & informed him that if he made 
any noise to call for assistance he was then a dead man. & after 
expostulating with him on the baseness of his conduct he 
the said Williams nave his word of honor that he would take 
back all the public property & as many of the men as he could 
persuade to go back — Upon this Col Lacy not confiding in his 
word exacted an oath to the same purpose 

But so it was that neither the one or the other had the desired 
effect, as he took the public property A the men to a place called 
the Cherokee ford where there were a number of North Caro- 
linians encamped commanded by Maj McDowel — Shortly after 
they were joined by Col Clark & Col Shellby — this army made 
an attack on a British post at Muskgrove's mill South Carolina 
this post was reduced & a number of British prisoners taken. 
Shortly after this news of Gen^Gates' defeat near Camden 
induced Col Clark & Col Shelby to retreat to the Mountains 



■striken <mt is: & a. Interlined :ii»'>ve is: together with 
•Thomas Brandon. 



17 

leaving- the prisoners in the hands of the said Williams to take, 
on to Hillsborough which he did, who arrogated the whole 
honour to himself of commanding the action in which they 
were captured Gen'-Gates after his defeat being at Hillsborough 
collecting his men. Governor Rutledge of South Carolina also 
was there on his return from Congress soliciting aid in behalf 
of the Southern States — Upon his showing his prisoners to the 
Governor & deceiving him by taking the whole merit to him- 
self as before mentioned and likewise the governor not knowing 
that Gen'-Sumter had the command of all the South Carolin- 
ians then in arms in defence of their country under this de- 
lution he gave the said Williams a General's Commission, he had 
the assurance to march into Sumter's Camp which was then on 
the Indian Land on the East side of the Catawba River, he had his 
commission publicly read & required all the officers & men to 
fall under his immediate command, but much to his well deserved 
mortification they all to a man knowing his recent conduct 
in deserting his post & embezzeling the public property as be- 
fore mentioned refused to have any thing to do with him or his 
commission & if he had not immediately left the camp he would 
have been stoned out of it — he then went up to the settlement 
in North Carolina on the Yadkin River where he engaged 
about 70 men-such as did not choose to do duty under their own 
officers by promising them that if they would go with him 
to South Carolina they could get as many negroes & horses as 

they chose to take from the Tories This happened a short 

time before Earl Cornwallis took post at Charlotte North Caro- 
lina & that he the said Cornwallis detached Rawdon & Tarlton 
with a number of horse & foot to five times the number that 
Gen'-Sumter had then in camp in order to surprise him but 
fortunately he got news of their intentions & crossed the River 
to the west side at Bigers' (now called Masons ferry) & there 
encamped. Your author then as chairman of the Convention 
called it together in order to deliberate on some plan respect- 
ing Gen^Sumter's commission as it was protested by Williams. 
but before any progress was made in the business the firing 
commenced across the River between our guard & Rawdon's 
men this soon broke up the convention & the army marched up 
the River & encamped that night in an uncommon thick wood, 
where we supposed we were safF f rom the horse of the enemy. 
In this place the convention again was called & five men 



18 

chosen to go to governor Rutledge whose names were Gen 1 - 
Richard Winn, 1 Col Henry Hampton, Col Thomas, and Col Mid- 
dleton,* was four of those chosen the other name not recollected, 
these commissioners was to go to Hillsborough to the governor 
and Gen 1 - Sumter was not to make his appearance until the busi- 
ness was decided- the command of the troops then devolved on 
Col Lacy & your Author — We then marched up the River 
& crossed it at the Tuckasegee ford our Intention being to form 
a junction with Gen 1 - Davidson the same that was killed when 
the British crossed the River at Cowens ford after sending an 
express to the said Davidson of our intentions he informed us 
that there was a considerable number of men from the west as 
well as from the East side of the mountain— Marching with an 
intention to tight col Ferguson & upon receiving this infor- 
mation we again crossed the River at Baty's ford, the evening 
after crossing the River. Williams & Brannon with their men 
engaged in the manner already mentioned came into our camp 
& Williams with an air of authority read his commission & 
required us to submit to his authority, your Author then informed 
him that there was not an officer or man in the whole army 
that would submit to his command as his recent conduct was 
such that no officer or sett of men would submit to such an officer 
& that we had sent commissioners to governor Rutledge that 
would soon return with full proof of the baseness of his conduct — 
upon this for fear of being worse treated by our men he thought 
tit to make good his retreat & formed his camp at a distance 
from ours — the night following I had a conversation with Col 
Lacy stating that there was a probability of our having to fight 
a superior force in a short time- though notwithstanding Wil- 
liams* number was but small we would endeavour to bring them 
in to an action as it was probable by this measure that some of 
them would meet a fate they so well merited- Col Lacy approving 
my sentiments if any way could he devised without paying 
respect to Williams' commission. I then proposed as Cols Grimes 
X: Hamright had that day joined us with a small party of North 
Carolinians, we would suppose the army to be in three divisions, 
the North Carolinians one. Williams' & Brannon's men one. £ 
the South Carolinians the third & that we would choose a 

■ This was Col. Richard Winn. He <lid nor become brigadier general 
until November 21, its:!, succeeding Gen. Henderson. 
•Col. Charles Starkey Myddelton. 



10 

Majr-Gen 1 - over the whole & that all orders should be assigned 
by all the Officers the following morning those propositions were 
offered to Williams but he spurned them & intimated that by 
virtue of his commission he would command the whole- upon 
this he was told to absent himself & not attempt to march with 
us or the North Carolinians, as the consequences would be serious, 
he then agreed to the proposition, accordingly we elected the 
officer that was to act as before mentioned, that day our spies 
came in & informed us that the mountain men were marching in a 
valley between a large & smaller Mountain- The next day in 
the morning an old gentleman well known to many oi us to be 
a man of veracity gave us the following information- that he 
bad been some clays with Col Ferguson & that he had the address 
to make him believe that he was a great friend to the Royal 
cause that Ferguson the evening before had sent an express to 
Cornwallis then camped in Charlotte No th - Ca na - that he had 
pitched his camp on the top of a mountain & that he was so well 
pleased with the goodness of his position as well as the courage & 
skill of his men, that he had been training for some time with great 
success & that he defied God Almighty & all the rebels that 
could be collected to drive him from that camp- However as he 
had nearly compleated the business of collecting & training all 
the friends to the Royal government that could be collected 
in that part of the country, & that he could then add 
to the Royal army upwards of 1000 men but as he 
had to march upwards of 40 miles through a D-rebel settlement 
though he was not afraid of any serious loss happening in his 
forming the junction with his Lordship- but as the Rebels were 
such Dam — d cowardly rascals that the} 7 would ambuscade him 
& he would not have it in his power to retaliate for those reasons 
he requested his Lordship to send Tarlton with his horse & In- 
fantry to escort him to his Lordship- But strange to relate, that 
the very same day on the morning of which we had this infor- 
mation your author missed Williams & Brannon out of the line 
of march & being informed that they had taken a pathway that 
led to the mountain- Nothing more Avas heard of them until 
evening after sunset- your Author being on the water we then 
discovered them coining to the camp- he then enquired of them 
which way they had been as they had not been with the army 
the greater part of the day- They appeared unwilling to give the 



20 

Information I desired however upon insisting further Williams 
replied that they had been with the mountain men & that they 
were a set of fine men & well armed, upon being questioned where 
we were to form a junction with them, the answer was at Lawsons 
fork at the old Iron works, I then remarked that would be march- 
ing directly from Ferguson & that undoubtedly the design of these 
men was to fight Ferguson, that he had sent to Cornwallis at 
Charlotte for Tarleton with his horse and infantry and that this 
reinforcement might be expected in a day or two which would 
enable him to form a junction with the grand Army and that 
if this battle was not fought before the reinforcement came the 
certain probability was that it never would be fought- and that 
he was now in So Ca. & had been a bitter & cruel enemy, that it 
appeared as if Heaven had sent those men from the mountains 
to punish so great & cruel Enemy; & he the said Williams, ap- 
peared by these remarks to be for some moments embarrassed, 
but when he came to his speech, he acknowledged, that He had 
made use of deception to get them to go to Ninety Six- I inquired 
of him if they had any cannon with them- his answer was in 
the negative. & added that such men with their Rifles would 
soon reduce that Post- I then used the freedom to tell him that 
I plainly saw his design was to get that Army in his own settle- 
ment as well as to get some of his property (and plunder the 
Toriers) from thence. In the course of the conversation he said 
with a considerable degree of warmth, that the No. Ca ns . might 
fight Ferguson or let it alone, & that our business was to fight 
for our own country- I then informed him that notwithstanding 
he had used such unwarrantable means to avoid an action -that 
I hoped under Providence that I would prevent his design- I 
then left him & informed Col. Lacey what Williams had done, 
that to use the huntsman's phrase he had put our friends on the 
wrong scent, & that if they did not get better information before 
the next day. that Forguson would undoubtedly escape- As T was 
unable to ride without my arm in a sling, being not recovered 
from the wound I rec' 1 . at the Hanging Pock, I immediately 
procured a pilot, gave him my own horse he being better to 
travel in the night than his. lie started with this pilot about 
8 o'clock- & in crossing the spur of the mountain they lost the 
path, and he Col. Lacey was so suspicious that he was taking 
him to the enemy, which was so very strong that he cocked his 



21 

gun twice to kill him; but Providence prevented it. They then 
found their way & got to the camp of the mountain men before 
day- he Lacy then enquired of the officers if two men the day 
preceeding from So. Ca had not visited them- they answered 
him in the affirmative- & further said that they had informed 
them that Forgu sn had gone to 96, & that they the mountaineers 
were to form a junction with the So. Ca s . at Lawsons fork, at the 
old iron works, the evening following- Co 1 . Lacey then gave 
our friends information that Forguson was encamped on Kings 
M n . & that he had sent to Earl Cornwallis for the reinforcement 
as already mentioned, & he Col Lacy with the Officers of the 
mountain men agreed to march to a place called the Cowpens 
where the So- Carolinians were to form a junction with them — • 
And here let me remark that when the officers found themselves 
thus deceived by Williams in the manner already mentioned 
they expressed the Highest degree of Indignation, as they had 
come so far with an intention to fight Ferguson & that they 
were so near being prevented of their intention by this supposed 
friend — The next morning before Col Lacy returned to Camp 
there was a likelyhood of there being a mutiny in the army for 
Col Williams went the rounds & ordered the Officers & men to 
march his way. Your author went the same rounds & informed 
those Officers & men of his wicked designs & requested them to 
wait Col Lacy' return as until then we did not know where we 
were to form a junction with our friends. In this state of busi- 
ness my Officers & men appeared determined to bide by my 
advice & directions, & thus began to threaten the others, & I at 
this stage of the business had the presence of mind to parade 
the army in such a position as more fully to inform them of the 
base & injudicious design of Williams, & that it was very im- 
politic to march into So- Carolina leaving the enemy behind, 
& load themselves with plunder, & that Ferguson without doubt 
was a man of military talents & that he would embrace such a 
favorable opportunity to attack them on their return, & that the 
greatest part of the Tories with him were well acquainted with 
every gap of the mountain, every ford of the rivers or creeks, 
& many of them would lose their lives or plunder. After men- 
tioning these things & much more to work on their patriotism 
or fears I made the following proclamation — 
All of you that love your Country & wish to fight for your 
country, your friends & posterity, & not to plunder your country 



k 



•22 

in a day of distress, you will parade to the right; And all you 
that are of a different disposition & intend to plunder-not to fight 
you will parade to the left — I am happy to say that to my 
great surprise the greatest part of the army paraded to thf 
right- leaving but a very small number to the left — Upon this 
I' ordered them to repair to their camp & make preparations 
for a march, which would commence as soon as Col Lacey re- 
turned which he did about 10 oclock & informed us that we 
were to march to a place called the Cowpens; where we were 
to form a junction with these mountaineers, when we took the 
line of march & placed our front & reaj* guards we dis- 
covered that Col Williams having so few men that adhered to 
him. that he thought it rather hazardous to March by himself 
but hung in our rear, he was thus obliged to keep at such a dis- 
tance as required by our rear guard, who held him & his men 
in such unfavorable light that they were throwing stones & 
otherwise offronting them the whole day- We arrived at the 
Cowpens at about sun sett & in a few moments our friends ar- 
rived also- The Officers of each army then convened together, 
the proceedings that took place was to give Col Campbell a 
nominal command over the whole this was done in courtesy as 
he & his men had come the greatest distance & from over the 
mountains. It also being known that Col Tarlton with his rein- 
forcement would in at least 2 days, join Col Ferguson. This 
induced the Officers to select 933 men & mounted them on their 
fleetest horses, leaving about an equal number of foot & horse 
in the camp, they began their march about 9 o'clock but it 
proved a very dark & raining night the path being small & the 
woods very thick, the troop got scattered & dispersed through 
the woods thus wondering the whole night, that when morning 
appeared the rear of them was but 5 miles from the Cowpens, 
this caused them to march uncommonly hard which caused many 
of the horses to give out as but few of them were shod, a small 
halt was made near the mountain in which the Officers planned 
the manner of attack — The officers that conducted this entreprise 
was Col s - Campbell, Cleveland. Shelby. Lacy. TIamrite. & Haw- 
thorne, he being my Lieutenant, myself being with the rear 
guard & not being well of my wounds as before mentioned: there 
was very little military subordination as all that was required 
or expected was that every Officer & man should ascend the 
mountain so as to surround the enemy on all quartets which 



23 

was promptly executed, this being the 7 th - day of October 1780 
commencing at one Oclock — And here let me remark that not- 
withstanding Col Ferguson was a brave military character it 
appeared that he was infatuated & brought to his own ruin by 
chosing this spot of ground on which he had to fight under 
every disadvantage as it will appear from the following re- 
lation. — (viz) there being a small flat of ground where he had 
pitched his camp on, the sides of the mountain being very Rocky 
& steep as well as a great number of fallen & standing trees 
so that the Americans could attack his camp on all quarters. 
& their shot went over the americans without effect, his in- 
fatuation would more fully appear when it is known that he 
trusted much to the bayonet, as a proof of this he had trained 
his men to that purpose & those which he could not furnish with 
this weapon he had contrived a substitute by getting the Black- 
smiths to make long knives to answer this. purpose with a tang 
put in a piece of wood to fit the calibre of the gun & a button 
to rest on the muzzle of the piece. In the commencement of the 
action he ordered a charge on the Americans, but the ground was 
so rough as before mentioned that they were not able to over- 
take the americans to injure them, in this way, & when they 
had went a certain distance they had orders to retreat to their 
camp. & then it was that the americans had every advantage 
required. In this manner four different charges was made & 
with the same success- By this time the Americans were within 
shot of the whole of their camp chiefly under cover of rocks 
& trees Col Ferguson being killed the second in command sued 
for peace, about this time Col Williams with his small party 
came up the side of the mountain, at which time a number of 
white handkerchiefs were seen holding up in the camp'& yet a 
number of men not knowing the intention of this signal con- 
tinued their fire & it was some time before the officers could get 
them to cease firing- At this moment this Col Williams was 
killed It is generally supposed & believed that it was done by 
some of the Americans, as many of them had been heard to 
promise on oath that they would do it when they had an oppor- 
tunity which promises were made at the time the dispute took 
place before mentioned, so that the Historians that have hitherto 
written of these transactions must have had very incorrect in- 
formation- as it is a fact that after the attempt to deceive 



24 

Col Campbell & the other Officers he dare not appear before them 
neither at the council of Officers at the Cowpens nor at the other 
near the mountain. In this action the americans had but few 
killed or wounded the number not exactly ascertained — Though 
generally believed the few that were killed & wounded was by 
the Americans after they had enclosed the camp by firing across. 
The loss of the enemy in killed & taken was about 1200, about 
100 of those was regulars. 9 of those who surrendered were 
hanged by their conquerors they were provoked to this by 
severity of the British who had lately hanged a great number 
of americans at Camden, Ninety six. Augusta & & — ■ But a 
much better reason that each individual of them was guilty 
of crimes for which their lives were forfeited by the Laws of 
the State & one in particular had taken a number of Indians 
to a small fort on the frontiers & murdered a number of women 
X- children the men being absent from the fort. — 
There was an action fought at Muskgroves Mill Enoree river 
on the l'.'" 1 - of August lisp, which it appears that none of the 
Historians which have written on the revolution of the Southern 
States have noticed- It was fought by a number of brave Officers 
& men who had volunteered their services. I think it proper that 
posterity should know something of it- I do not give the infor- 
mation of my own knowledge but give it from an Officer of 
high standing who was present at the action- Gen 1 - M c Dowell 
continued to mancever on the North side of Broad river, not 
being in force to attempt an action with Ferguson until the 18 th - 
of August 1780 at which time he received information that 500 
Tories were encamped at Muskgroves mill on the bank of 
Enoree river- Co] Shelby & Lieut Col- Clarke were selected 
by Gen 1 '- M c Dowel] to head the detachment destined to cut up 
that party of Tories- M c Dowell's camp was then at smiths ford 
on Broad river 40 miles or upwards from the Tories Encamped 
at Muskgroves- Maj r . Ferguson lay about half way with all his 
force and and only two or three miles from the route our party 
had to travel. They commenced their march from Smiths ford 
at sun about one hour high in the evening of the 18 th of Aug 1 . 
L780 with 7<H) picked men well mounted, among whom were sev- 
eral of the field officers of M c .Dowal's army who had volunteered 
their services. & they were joined by Col. Williams with a few 
of his followers the whole army amounting to between 7')i) & 



800 men. They travelled through the woods, until nearly dark 
then took the road, & traveled fast all the night, a great part 
of the way in a canter, never stopped even to "let their horses, 
drink. & arrived within y 2 mile of the enemy camp just at break 
of day, when they were met by a strong patrole party of the 
enemy coming out to reconnoitre- A sharp fire commenced in 
which several of the enemy fell 1 - and they gave back to their 
<'amp at this juncture, a countryman who lived in sight came 
up & informed Col Shelby that the enemy had been strongly 
reinforced the evening before with 000 regulars from 90 & the 
Queen's American Keg*, from N. York 2 - commanded by Col. 
Innis. The Americans after a hard travel all night of 40 miles, 
or upwards were too much broke down to retreat- they prepared 
for action as fast as possible by making a breast work of Ions 
and brush, which they completed in half an hour, when the 
enemys whole force appeared in full view, their lines lay across 
the road upwards of half a mile in length- a small party had 
been sent under Cap 1 . Shadrack Inman to scrimage with the 
enemy, as soon as they crossed the River, for their camp was on 
the south side of Muskgrove's plantation Cap 1 . Inman had orders 
to give way as the enemy advanced When they came within 70 
yards of our breastworks a heavy & destructive fire commenced 
on them — 

The action was bloody £ obstinate for upwards of an hour & a 
half. The enemy had got within a few yards of our works: at 
that juncture Col- Innis who commanded the Enemy was badly 
wounded & carried back, & every other regular Officer except 
one Lieutenant of the British were either killed or wounded 
when the enemy began to give way just at that moment also 
Cap*- Hawsey an Officer of considerable distinction among the 
Tories was shot down near our lines while making the greatest 
efforts to animate his men- The Tories upon the fall of Cap*- 
Hawsey broke in great confusion, the slaughter from thence to 
the Enoree river about half a mile was very great, dead men 
lay thick on the ground over which our men pursued the enemy. 
In this pursuit Cap 1 . Inman was killed while pressing the enemy 
close in his rear great merit was due to Cap 1 - Inman for the 
manner in which lie brought on the action £ to which the suc- 

l The words "and they -arc hack to-rfroir camp" are interlined above. 
2.1nterlined above is: commanded by Col. Innis 



A 



26 

cess of the day was greatly to be attributed- This action was 
one of the hardest ever fought in the United States with small 
arms- the smoke was so thick as to hide a man at the distance 
of 20 yards- Our men took 200 prisoners during the action 
& could have improved the victoiy to great advantage- their 
object was to be in 00 that night, distant 25 or 30 miles & weak 
& defenceless. But just after the close of the action an express 
arrived from Gen 1 - M c Dowell with a letter to him from Governor 
Caswell informing of the defeat on the 16 th - of our grand army 
under Gen 1 - Gates near Camden- In this situation to secure a 
safe retreat was a most difficult task- our small party broke 
down with fatigue. 200 British prisoners in charge upwards of 
40 miles advance of Gen 1 - M c Dowell who retreated immediately 
& dispersed upon the receipt of the news of Gates' defeat — 
Ferguson with 3000 men almost directly in their rear- It re- 
quired all the vigilance & exertion which human nature was 
capable of, to avoid being cut to pieces by Ferguson's light 
parties- It was known to Col Shelby that he had a body of 
dragoons & mounted men that woidd endeavour to intercept them 
which caused him to bear up toward the mountains-the enemy 
pursued as was expected 50 or 60 miles until their horses broke 
down £ could follow no further- It is to be remarked that during 
the advance of upwards of 40 miles. & the retreat of 50 or 60 
miles, the Americans never stoped to eat but made use of peaches 
& green corn for their support the excessive fatigue to which 
they were subjected two nights & two days effectually broke down 
every < fficer so that their faces & eyes swelled & became so bloated 
in appearance as scarcely to be able to see — This action happened 
at the most gloomy period of the revolution, just after the defeat 
& dispersion of the American Army & is not known in the his- 
tory of the revolution. After our party had retreated into No- 
Ca- clear of their pursuers Col Shelby crossed the mountains 
to his own country & left the prisoners taken in the action in 
the possession of Col Clarke to carry them on to the North until 
they could be safely secured he gave them up shortly afterwards 
to Col Williams to conduct them to Hillsborough No- Ca- at 
this period there was not the appearance of a corps of americans 
embodied any where to the Southward of Virginia- In this 
action the American loss was small in comparison with that of 
the enemy who over shot them as they lay concealed behind 



27 

their breastworks- The loss of Cap 4 - Inman was much regretted 
he fell gloriously fighting for his country, on the 19 th - of August 
1780-with many other brave spirits who volunteered their ser- 
vices on that occasion & defeated an enemy far superior in force 
to their own — The defeat of Gen 1 - Gates, the surprise & com- 
plete dispersion of Gen'- Sumter- & dispersion of Gen 1 - 
M c Dowell"s army, no appearance of an american army existed to 
the Southward of Virginia, & many of the Whigs from the Caro- 
linas & Georgia with Gen 1 - M c Dowell at their head retreated to 
the west side of the Alleghany Mountains for refuge from a 
pursuing foe- It was at this gloomy period of the revolution that 
Cols Shelby, Sevier, Campbell & Gen 1 - M c Dowell who fled to their 
country began to concert plans for collecting a force & making a 
forced march to surprise Maj r - Ferguson who had advanced up 
to the foot of the mountains on the East side & threatened to 
cress over & lay waste the country on that side for their oppo- 
sition to his Majesty's Arms — 

Although David Ramsey the historian has given a pretty full 
account of the affairs of South Carolina, of their first measures 
taken to oppose the arbitrary demands of Great Britain, yet 
there are a number of matters & things omitted, that may be 
useful to the present generation 1 , & especially as it is probable 
that a number of new states will yet be formed in the great 
American empire- And as there is a number of the old that are 
looking for a reformation in their constitutions, more especially 
to their representative system- I have therefore thought proper 
to give a short history of the proceedings of the people of South 
Carolina in their first forming the constitution. The South 
Carolinians took a very determined stand to oppose the measures 
of Great Britain, for as soon as the Boston port bill, & the other 
oppressive acts of the British parliament were known to them, 
the people of Charleston & its vicinity convened under the shade 
of a tree in the commons, & then & there they entered into 
several resolves to oppose the arbitrary measures of that govern- 
ment. & they elected & sent a delegation to the first Congress 
that met in Philadelphia in the years 1774- 75 at the same time 
they formed what is called a provincial Congress" & assumed all 
the powers of government by emmitting money or bills of credit, 

iXot only has Ramsay omitted many things, but lie lias given erroneous 
accounts of many of the matters that he lias discussed. 

2Tlie mass meetings which were Jield under the Liberty Tree did not 
elect the delegation to the Continental Congress in July, 1774. That was 
done by a convention composed of delegates from various parts of South 
Carolina. It provided for an election for a provincial congress. The 
election was held in December and the congress met in January. 1775. 



28 

raising troops for the defence of the Province The Legislative 
power they held, but the executive was placed in what was called 
a council of safety £ in committees in different parts- The reso- 
lutions of this Congress & the recommendations of the council 
of safety were generally complied with- as they had been laws 
enacted by all necessary power & authority. This first Congress 
as already mentioned was chiefly composed of citizens from the 
lower division of the province, hut they found a very judicious 
plan to get all the people in the interior & upper parts of the 
province engaged with them, which was to deputise two very 
influential characters, one a clergyman the other a Lawyer, the 
name of the former Tennent the latter Drayton. They were 
to go to the interior & upper country & explain to the people the 
nature of the dispute between this country & Great Britain-^ 
likewise to lay off the country into Districts as places of general 
musters & to hold Elections The commissioners merit much 
for the care & pains they took in the discharge of their commis- 
sion, they had the whole of the State laid off in elective districts 
not by surveyors who could not be had at that time but by such 
natural lines as rivers, creeks, roads &c-for under the old govern- 
ment there was not a county or district for the whole of the 
province was purchased from the Ocean to the mountains, by 
this arrangement the three districts (Richland-Fairfield & Ches- 
ter) were called the districts between Broad X- Cattawba Rivers, 
their place of meeting at Winnsborough- the district then called 
the new acquisition (now York) 1 was left by itself the other 
parts of the State was laid out in a similar way as most agreeable 
to the people- Each of the districts were to send members to 
the provincial Congress, but no limit as to numbers, many or few, 
the constitution formed by the provincials was nearly such as 
before under the old government- The first magistrate was 
stiled President & commander in chief he was to have a privy 
council-the general assembly was to elect out of. its own body 
L3 members 7 of whom should be a quorum, the members were 
called a Legislative council these were as a. house of Lords. 

ri'iic territory called the New Acquisition had been acquired from North 
Carolina by a trade made in ITTli. It consisted of those parts of the 
present counties of York. Cherokee and Spartanburg that lie north of the 
35th degree of north latitude, in exchange therefor Smith Carolina gave 
a strip lying between the line of 1764 (north of Marlboro, Chesterfield 
and Lancaster counties) and the said 35th parallel of north latitude and 
east of the reservation of the Catawba Indians, and constituting portions 
of the present counties of Mecklenburg. Union, Anson and Richmond. 



29 

The President or commander was to have his veto or negative 
on all bills -Under these arrangements the State progressed in 
making many defensive arrangements still looking forward with 
a sincere hope that a reconciliation with great Britain would be 
effected — For at that time there was very few if anjr of the 
citizens who had any wish for independence But when the Con- 
tinental Congress declared the 13 states Independent of great 
Britain & recommended to the different states to form State 
constitutions agreeable to free & independent States, then it was 
this Provincial congress invited the different Districts to send 
members to that convention 1 ; and it was left to the People the 
number to be sent — About this time the citizens of the new 
acquisition met & sent five men to the convention, 2 but these men 
were not chosen by Ballot, as but very few of the citizens had 
any knowledge of that mode of proceding, but they were named 
by such as pleased to give their assent — A short time after they 
had gone to Charleston & had taken their seats, a number of the 
citizens came to the Iron works of the Author and expressed 
great disapprobation at the course which had been taken, not- 
withstanding they seemed to have a wish to preserve both Church 
& State, as one of the men sent was a ruling Elder of the church 
another a Dutchman, he was to take care of money matters; the 
other being lately from Pensylvania where the mode of choos- 
ing their Eepresentatives was by ballot- His advice was to convene 
the Citizens, on a certain day & elect them by Ballot- They 
accordingly met & elected five other men 3 — they immediately set 

lThis is all wrong:. Just what is to be expected from the memory of 
an old man. The 2nd Provincial Congress had formed an independent 
government, March 26, 1776, and had resolved itself into a General 
Assembly. The General Assembly, at its second session, in September. 
1776, ratified the Declaration of Independence. The next General Assem- 
bly adopted a new constitution whereby the state was redistricted and 
the number or representatives for each district fixed. 

2 Ten delegates were sent by this meeting to the 2nd Provincial Congress. 
They were Col. Thomas Neel, Col. Ezekiel Polk, Capt. Samuel Watson. 
Capt. William Byers, Capt. Alexander Love, Joseph Howe, James Carson, 
Joseph Woods, Robert Dickey and Francis Adams. 

3They also elected ten delegates. They were Ezekiel Polk, Samuel Wat- 
son, William Byers, James Carson, Francis Adams, William McCulloch, 
John Howe, Francis Ross, Robert McAlfee and Thomas Janes. The con- 
gress seated this delegation also. Five men were elected on both dele- 
gations so that the New Acquisition had_fifteen delegates in all. These 
delegates became that district's representatives in the first General As- 
sembly, March 26, 1776, and served to the general election in October, 
1776. 



30 

out for Charleston. & "were allowed their seats with the other 
five- This will account for the new Acquisition having 10 mem- 
bers for a number of years when the three districts between 
Broad & Catawba River had only the same number — Previous 
to the meeting of this convention that was to form a constitution 
upon the principles of Independence, the public mind was much 
agitated upon the grand question, whether there was to be any 
Religious establishment of one denomination of Christians over 
the other & as most of the southern provinces had been under 
the church of England there was fear that if any denomination 
had any preference over the other it would in a great measure 
prevent that Harmony amongst the Citizens which was necessary 
to oppose the measures of the British government — About this 
time a number of the principle citizens of Charleston had a num- 
ber of memorials or petitions printed & distributed through the 
different parts of the State-the memorial stated the bad policy 
either in a Religious or political point of view in establishing 
any one religious denomination over another. One of these 
memorials was sent to the Author & he in order to get as many 
names as possible — (& not believing in the doctrine of the turks 
that women have no souls) he got the women to sign their names 
with the men-this memorial when presented was a novelty & mat- 
ter of surprise but when the principle was properly examined it 
was declared to be correct- happily for the state when the busi- 
ness was 1 nought forward in the Convention even those who had 
been brought up adherents of the established church of England 
voted & spoke in favour of the memorial so that there was a very 
small minority thus happily that business which had for a length 
of time filled the minds of the Citizens with fearful forebodings 
was settled — In this place I shall observe that Being who created 
all things He who hath the hearts of the human under his con- 
trol & that it was owing to His agency that this matter termi- 
nated so happily- By the constitution established bj^ the con- 
vention, the Legislative Power was vested in a Senate & House 
of Representatives — The Executive power was vested in a Gov- 
ernor & Commander in chief, he had no Legislative power- The 
judiciary with the the other officers were elected by the Gen 1 . As- 
sembly — When that part of the Constitution which respects the 
Representation (was debated?) 3 a proposition was made by one of 
the mosl influential members, that Charleston should have 30 
members, in the H. of Rep s . & two in the Senate The other dis- 

lThe words in parentheses were evidently inserted either by Gen. Sum- 
ter or Mr. Brownfleld. 



31 

tricts in the State might choose as many as they thought proper — 
The proposition was agreed to by a very large majority-and 
the members at a given time were to give in the numbers they 
wished, & this was done without adopting any principle of popu- 
lation wealth, or any thing else 1 — Whilst this business was pend- 
ing your Author took great pains, to induce the members to 
send such a number as would be a proper balance to the great 
number from Charleston — And amongst a number of things, 
the following ideas "That the o2 members from Charleston 
would have a great advantage over the other from their 
local situation, having it in their power to arrange all the plans 
they wished for : that in a short time we would find we lived under 
an aristocratical & not a free representative government — that as 
we had the loaf to cut, we should take such a cut as w d . prevent 
the evils to be feared" — But as if some fate had attended the 
business, not one of them would be brought to see as I did, 
although numbers of them were far superior in abilities to my- 
self — By this contracted policy, the now three districts of Rich- 
land, Fairfield & Chester were content to send one senator & 
10 Representatives"; the most of the upper districts adopted a 
similar policy, but the most of the lower districts had G Repre- 
sentatives and one Senator, until some time after the peace- No 
great evil was felt, but in a few years the great emigration from 
the other States, and the other districts remaining stationary 
caused the inequality to be felt— 

A large tract of country was purchased of the Cherokee In- 
dians & was soon thick settled so the inequality became in time 
between the upper & lower divisions of the State as 16 to one : & 
although the defect in the constitution was evident to every 
impartial eye yet so is power that however improper they are 
not for giving it up-& so it happened in this case for not with - 

iAs there had been no census no one knew the population or wealth. 
They could only be estimated, and the figures so estimated would doubtless 
have varied according to the minds of the estimators. 

-It is quite likely that in 177S Charles Town contained fully three 
times the population and wealth that were in the district between the 
Broad and Catawba rivers. 

3A treaty with the Cherbkees was consummated by Gov. Glen at Saluda 
Old Town in 17")."). whereby the Indians ceded all lands between the white 
settlements and their nation. These lands were rapidly filled up with 
settlers from England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and France, but 
the proportion of sixteen to one was not reached by 177S, nor has it been 
reached yet. In 1777 the Cherokees were driven out of South Carolina 
and the lands formerly occupied by them in South Carolina opened to 
settlers. 



32 

standing the most vigorous efforts every meeting of the Legis- 
lature — the system still remained for about 20 years & then it 
was granted [only when] until the members of the upper di- 
vision came to a determination no longer to submit but to apply 
to the general assembly that had promised to guarantee to each 
State a republican form of government 1 . About 6 years past a 
reform took place & now each district has one Senator & repre- 
sentatives in proportion to the population & the amount of taxes 
paid to the support of government. I now go back breaking the 
order of time to relate that some time after the peace took place 
the meeting & sitting of the Legislature was in Charleston it 
being in, the corner of the State & a commercial city these & 
[other] reasons induced the Legislature to purchase a tract a 
land now Columbia & to build a state house but this arrange- 
ment not being fixed by the constitution a convention was called 
to have it fixed when this convetion [met] at Columbia there was 
much of what may be called parliamentary jokey ing-there was 
a large number of members from Charleston & its vicinity who 
were for keeping it in Cha- ton — & in order to divide the votes 
three places were proposed (viz) at the High Hills, one near 
Col Thompson, &. one at Columbia, but the sagacity of the 
country members prevented the fate of the plan that was laid for 
[them], notwithstanding the members from Charleston & all the 
lower members who voted for it" with the exception of a 
few men — yet the votes were for Columbia & only by one — this 

Un 17110 (twelve years later) a new constitution was adopted which 
changed the representation to suit changed conditions. 01 course the 
census of 1800 and each succeeding ten years hrought changes in the repre- 
sentation in the House. There was an inequality in the Senate. A large 
and populous election district had but one senator, while a small dis- 
trict sparsely populated with white people had one senator. .Most of the 
parishes (each of which constituted an election district) in the Low-Country 
were in the latter class. That was the hone of contention which dis- 
gruntled many men of the Up-Countrj from the Revolution to 1st!.". The 
words "only when" in brackets were interlined by Mr. Sumter or Mr. 
Brownfield ; so was the word "other" lower down, and the word "met"' 
still farther down. 

-<"ol. Hill mixed his facts as to this also. It was in 17S0. when the 
hill to establish Columbia was up, that Stateburg (on the High Hills of 
Santee) and Manigault's plantation, near Col. William Thomson's, were 
brought into competition with the site named in the hill, (hi the passage 
of the hill in the House, with the site named in hill, it carried by a con- 
siderable majority. An amendment was offered to make Manigault's 
plantation the site. The amendment was lost by two majority, not one. 
That story about one majority for the site whereon Columbia stands has 
given rise to a popular myth to the effecl that Stateburg came within one 
vote of winning. Columbia was selected over all by the House. The Senate 
gave a two-thirds vote in favor of the Columbia site. 

The word them in brackets was interlined by Mr. Sumter or the copyist. 



33 

trial of strength gave encouragement for the members of 
Char ton — to threathen its removal at a future period- this threath 
induced the the country members to have in the constitution 
another clause (viz) that no alteration should take place but by 
two thirds of both the branches of the Legislature at one meet- 
ing and then after a new election by the same vote — this had 
the good effect to prevent any further attempt to remove the 
government to Charleston But as most good things have their 
alloy of evil this was a great bar in the way of having the repre- 
sentation fixed upon a proper principle, let it be observed there 
is a power who governs the fate of nations as that of individuals 
& this power often makes use of means that may be thought by 
the human eye to be weak & contemptible weak instrument as I 
was had I acted upon the policy which other men of superior 
abilities did as has been already stated & had I been content 
with two or three representatives instead of ten & a Senator- 
when the votes were taken as before said that instead of one in 
favour there would have been five or six against it — Upon this 
the most probable result would have been that the great & 
essential benefits of having the State government permanently 
fixed would not have been as early by many years & most prob- 
ably not before the Reform which took place about six years 
ago. , 

23 of January 1835= 

This is a true copy, including corrections, of a manuscript 
which I received from my father written in the year 1815 by 
Co'-W m . Hill and which never has been out of his possession 
or mine since it was received from the author except in that 
of M r . J. W. Brownfield who made this copy & of T(ho s . D. 
Sumter who assisted me in examining & correcting the same from 
the original which I this day deliver to Francis B Sumter by 
the desire of Co 1 Hill son of the author to be delivered 
into his hands — taking a receipt therefor 

Tho. Sumter 



INDEX 



Adams, Francis. 29(2). 
Alleghany Mountains. 27. 
Anson County, X. C. 28. 
Augusta, Ga., Am'ericans hanged at, 

24. 

Beatty's Ford. 18. 

Bigers's Ferry, 17. 

Bills of Credit. 27. 

Black River, 14. 

Blackstock's, Battle at. 14-15. 

Boston Port Bill, 27. 

Brandon, Col. Thomas. Hi. 18(2), 
19. 

Bratton, Col. William. 6. 

Broad and Catawba Rivers. Dis- 
trict between, 28, 29, 31. 

Broad River, 24(2) : Attack on Sum- 
ter's camp near. 13-14. 

Brownfield, J. W., 3(2), 39, 32, 33. 

Brownfield copy Of Hill's memoirs. 
3(3). 

Brownfield family. :;. 

Bryan, Col., 12. 

Bullock's Creek Meeting House. 6. 

Byers, William. 29 (2). 

Camden. 6; Americans lianged at. 
24; Battle of, 13, 16, 26. 

Campbell, Col. William. 22(2). 24, 
27. 

Cahe Creek. Id. 

Carson, .lames. 29(2). 

Caswell. Governor Richard (of 
North Carolina i . 26. 

Catawba River. 8, 16, 17. 

Charles Towd (Charleston after 
August, 1783), 3, 1. 6(2), 10. 27. 
29(2), 39(2), ::i (3). 

Charleston (after August, 1783), 
321 I), 33(3). 

Charlotte. X. C. 17. ID. 29. 

Cherokee County. 28. 

Cherokee Ford, if.. 

Cherokee Indians. Cession by, 31. 

Chester District (created in 1798}, 
28, 31. 



Chesterfield County. 2S. 

Church of England, •'!(». 

Clarke. Col. Elijah. 16(2), 24. 26. 

Clem's Branch. 8. 

Cleveland, Col. Benjamin, 22. 

Columbia, Founding of. 32. 

Congarees, The. C. 

Congress, Continental. 7(2), 27, 29. 

Congress, Provincial. 27. 28(2), 29. 

Constitutions of South Carolina, 

Discussion of the. 27-:i:'». 
Convention of July. 1774. 27. 
Cope. Lieutenant, 15. 
Cornwallis, Lord. 0. 1.°,. 17(2), 19. 

20. 21. 
Council of Safety. 28. 
Cowen's Ford. 18. 
Cowpens, The, 21. 22(3), 24. 
Davidson. Gen., 18(2). 
Davie. Col. W. It.. 12. 
Dickey. Robert. 20. 
Drayton. William Henry. 28. 
England, ::i ; church of. 39. 
Enoree River. 24 ( 2 1 . 2.">. 
Ervin, Col.. 12. 
Established Church, 39. 
Fairfield District (created in 17'.)S[, 

11. 28, 31. 
Ferguson, Col. (killed at Huck's 

defeat), 9, 10. 
Ferguson, Col. Patrick (killed at 

King's Mountain), is. 19(2), 20 

(4), 21(4), 22. 2.-.. 24(2). 20(2), 

27. 
Fishing Creek. Rattle of. 13. 
Floyd. Col. (Tory). S. 

France, 31. 

(bites. (Jen. Horatio. Defeat of. at 

Camden. 10. 17. 26(2), 27. 
General Assembly, 28. 
Georgia, 7. 27. 
( Sermany, 31. 
Gibson, Lieutenant, 15. 

Glen, GOV. James. 31. 

Governor, 39. 



35 



Grauby, 6. 

Great Britain, 27(2), 28, 29(2). 

Grimes, Col., 18. 

Hambright, Lieut: Col.. 18, 22. 

Hampton, Col. Henry, 18. 

Hanging Rock, Capture of, 12-13, 16, 

20. 
Hart, John R., 3. 
Hawsey. Capt., 25(2). 
Hawthorn. Lieut. Col. James, 22. 
Hayne. Isaac (1745-1781), S. 
Henderson, Gen. William, IS. 
High Hills of Santee, 32. 
Hill.— ,son of Col. William, 3, 33. 
Hill family, 3. 

Hill's Iron Works, 6, 8, 9, 29. 
Hillsborough, N. C. 17(2), 18, 26. 
House of Representatives, 30. 
Howe, John. 29. 
Howe, Joseph, 29. 
Huek. Capt. Christian, 8, 9(4), 10 

(2). 
Huck's Defeat, 9-10. 
Indian (Catawba) lands. 17. 
Indians, 24, 31. 

Inman, Capt. Shadrack. 25(4), 27. 
Innis, Col., 25(2). 
Ireland, 31. 
Iron Works, Hill's, 6, 8, 9. 29; Old, 

Lawson's Fork. 20, 21. 
Jones, Thomas, 29. 

Johnson, , 11, 12. 

Judiciary, 30. 

King's Mountain, 21 ; Battle of, 4 

(2), 15, 22-24. 
Lacey, Col. Edward, 14, 16(2), 18 

(3), 20(2), 21(5), 22(2). 
Lancaster County, 28. 
Lawson's Fork, 20, 21. 
Legislative Council, 28. 
Liberty Tree, Charles Town, 27-28. 
Library of Congress, 3(2). 
Love, Alexander, 29. 
Manigault's plantation, 32. 
Marlboro County, 28. 
Mason's Ferry, 17. 
McAfee, Robert, 29. 
McCulloch. William, 29. 
McDowell, Gen., 24(4) , 26(2) , 27(3) . 



McDowell, Major, 16. 

Mecklenburg County, N. C, 12, 28. 

Miles, Major, 16. 

Money, 27. 

Money, Major, 15. 

Musgrove's Mill, Capture of post at, 

n:. -24. 
Musgrove's plantation, 25. 
Myddelton, Col. Charles Starkey. 

18. 
Neel, Col. Andrew, 7, 8(2) ; Death 

of. 11. 
Neel, Col. Thomas, 29. 
Negroes. 8. 10, 11, 17. 
New Acquisition, 4, 6, 28, 29(2). 
New York, 25. 
Ninety Six, 25, 26; Americans 

hanged at, 24. 
Ninety Six District, 6, 16, 20, 21. 
North Carolina, 7, 8, 12(2), 16, 

17(2), 18, 19(2), 20, 26(2), 28. 
Orangeburgh, 6. 
Parris, Capt., 6(3). 
Pennsylvania, 29. 
Philadelphia, Pa., 8, 27. 
Pickens. Col. (subsequently Gen.) 

Andrew. 6; Surrender of a fort 

in Ninety Six District by, 6. 
Polk. Ezekiel, 29(2). 
President of South Carolina, 28, 29. 
Prince of Wales's Regiment, The, 13. 
Privy Council, 28. 

Provincial Congress, 27, 28(2), 29. 
Queen's American Regiment, The, 

25. 
Ramsay, Dr. David, 27. 
Ramsour's Mill, 8. 
Rawdon, Lord, 6(3), 17(2). 
Richland District (created in 1800), 

28, 31. 
Richmond County, N. C, 28. 
Rocky Mount, 6, 8(2), 10(2) ; Sum- 
ter's attack on, 11-12. 
Ross, Francis, 29. 
Rutherford, Gen. Griffith, 8(2). 
Rutledge, Governor John, 17, 18(2). 
Salisbury, N. G, S. 
Saluda Old Town, 31. 
Savannah, Ga., 6. 



36 



Scotland. 31. 

Senate. 30. 

Sevier. Lieut. Col. John. 27. 

Shelby, Col. Isaac. 16(2), 22, 24. 
25, 26(2), 27. 

Smith's Ford. 24(2). 

Southern States. 7(2). 

Spartanburg County. 28. 

State House, Columbia, •*'»2. 

Stateburg, 32. 

Sunimerville. 3. 

Sumter. Francis B., 33. 

Sumter. (Jen. Thomas. 3(4), 4(2), 
6. 8(2, then Col.). 11, 12(4), 
13(4), 14. 15(2), 16(2). 17(4), 18, 
27, 30; Wounding of, 15; Death 
of. ::. 

Sumter. Thomas, son of above. 3 
(4), 32, ::::. 

Sumter. Thomas I).. .'!. 33. 
Tarleton, Lieut. Col. Ranastre, 14, 

17. 19, 20. 22. 
Tennent. Rev. William. 28. 
Thomas. Col. John, Jr.. 18. 
Thomson. Col. William, 32. 



Tuckaseegee Ford, IS. 

Tyger River. 14(2). 

Union County. X. C, 28. 

United States. 26. 

Virginia, 26. 27. 

Washington, Gen. George, 7(2). 

Watson. Samuel. 6. 20(2). 

Waxhaws. The. 6(2). 

Weymyss, Major, 13(2), 14. 

Williams. Col. James. 15, 16, 17. IS, 

19, 20, 21, 22. 24. 26; Death of, 

2.",. 
Williamson. Gen. Andrew, 6. 
Williamson's plantation. Rattle at, 

9-10. 
Winn. Col. Richard, 18. 
Winnsborough, 28. 
Woman suffrage. An early instance 

of. 30. 
Woods. Joseph. 29. 
Yadkin River, 17. 
York. 3. 

York County (since 1868), 2S. 
York District (1800-1868), 4. 6. 10. 

2S. 



